WTB
Rocket V Stealth
Saddle

Product Description

It's no surprise that so much praise has been given to the Rocket V. Its fit is legendary, and it's look distinct. The Rocket V, with its Love Channel, Comfort Zone feature, and smaller Whale-Tail pedaling platform, is the choice of many top professionals.

User Reviews

Strengths: To date this is the best saddle I have used thus far. Comfortable yet narrow enough to slide back and lean behind the saddle on steep drops. The curve of the saddle cradles your sitting area in the center, the center of the shell has a cutout prevents hotspots with just the right amount of padding, not too thin or too thick. Looks great with the silver and black color scheme, even after 5 years. I have the titanium rails version and it's light. I'm buying the same saddle when it's time for a replacement.

Weaknesses: stitching on the nose is wears out, fake carbon fiber love channel cover is cheesey and already peeling off after several rainy trail rides.

Bottom Line:

Get this saddle if you're tired of the usual 'Weapons of Ass Destruction'. Everybody is different anatomically and saddles are tough to buy without sitting on them first hand, but just like everyone here who reviewed it I totally love this product.

Strengths: Most comfortable Seat I've owned, period. Only slightly heavier than the ssm aspide and similiar race saddles that don't offer much comfort or padding. The dip fits me well. Much lighter than some other saddles I've had that were almost as comfy. I think it's reasonably priced considering what the weight and the price of the european competition.

Weaknesses: Durability?? I've seen a few of these broken, although I've not broken one myself. The soft spot seems to sag after a few years.

Bottom Line:

I've got 3 bikes. All 3 bikes so I have to have 3 of these saddles. My XC race bike has such nice parts on it I'm thinking of getting another SS hardtail for bad conditions. If so I'll be buying a 4th.

Strengths: Got that well known Rocket V comfort at a racing light weight

Weaknesses: Harder than a Rocket V SLT and way harder than a Rocket V Race

Bottom Line:

Mate this seat with a light seatpost and ur bike will certainly lose that top heavy feel - the lightest comfortable seat I've found. Apart from a little expected 'throw down' wear on the back corners none of my Rocket seats have let me down - the rails and covers have taken years of abuse.

I've got 3 Rocket V models on different bikes at any one time and I'll briefly compare them. As you move from the Race to the SLT to the Stealth the changes are as expected:1 $$$$$$ - the Stealth is not a very cheap seat2 Weight - The Race is trail heavy the Stealth race light3 Comfort - To me there is a real and surprisingly large difference in comfort - the Race model is plush and I've hardly ever got saddle sore even on long hard rides. The SLT is slightly less comfortable but for me the Stealth is only a 'comfortable' seat in a lightweight, racing context.This seat has drawn blood in endurance races. Now I only use the Stealth for rides under about 2hrs and I'm happy to trade off the extra weight of the Race model for extra comfort on longer hauls.

Despite this, I doubt you'll find better comfort and durability than a Rocket V at any of these levels of price or weight.

Submitted by
Justin Cashion
a Cross Country Rider
from Franklin, NC USA

Date Reviewed: July 30, 2007

Strengths: Leather is nice and it is constructed extremely well. Love the Love Channel! Ti rails keep the weight down.

Weaknesses: Nada

Bottom Line:

I love this saddle! Got it at cost from my old job, and I love it. Everyone should be given one with the purchase of a bike. Never ridden a more comfortable saddle! wish I had one for the road bike, too...Hmmmmmm

Very comfy. It is on a road bike. The back edge of the seat is well padded allowing me to slide back and comfortably hang my butt off the back edge for a better climbing position when slogging up the mountains around here. I have had a cheaper model of wtb rocket with CroMo rails on the mountain bike for a few years and it has held up well.

Weaknesses: The colour! White is pretty easy to get dirty. I think it looks good but practically you've got to expect it to get dirty. The saddle doesn't have much crash protection - so if you crash often and your bike keeps endo-ing further than you do, look to the Rocket V's which have more durable construction. This is a Racing saddle!

Bottom Line:

This saddle is good for racers and experienced trail riders. The narrow saddle is of course, suited to people with narrow hips (just like me!). It's a very comfortable saddle with just enough padding to be perfect for enudro's but not so much to weigh it down. The Ti rails definitely help with the comfort factor. It's also quite flat, which allows me to move around quite easily.

Just keep in mind that this is a narrow racing racing saddle. Wider riders look at the Deva/Devo or other brands. It's perfect for riders like me: narrow hips and a saddle hardened bum. I love this saddle so much it's on my Trance and my XC HT racer.

Strengths: High quality. The drooped nose really works when I scoot to the front on climbs. It's very stiff for such a light saddle -- I get no flex when I slide up front or off the back. The narrow width makes it easier to get off the back than the WTB Laser. The price is fair. Variety of color/cover fabric options if you look around.

Weaknesses: Rough material (like a synthetic burlap or such?) on back of saddle grabs my baggy shorts when I get behind the saddle. Wish that where a more slippery fabric. Sometimes I actually get stuck behind the seat and have to dab. Humorous for my riding buddies.

Bottom Line:

The best 'narrow', light, high-end saddle I found. Great for tech trail riding with steep drops and steep climbs that require frequent shifting from the nose to off-the-back.

Weaknesses: After a while the foam has compressed somewhat -- but I guess that happens to every saddle unless you go foamless like those new all-carbon saddles -- too crazy for me.

Bottom Line:

I weight 175 and I ride both road and off-road about two to three times a week. I bought this saddle after reading the reviews listed under Rocket V. I wanted a light, but comfortable saddle to replace my $10 saddle after it started ripping. I did not know that I was riding in numbness until I made the switch. I liked it so much that I also got one for my road bike.